The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-05-21

The Behavl0r 0f q Colonel ~
the Battle Of Cedar Greek.
Baltimore American.

The death in Buffalo last week
of Gen. George NJ. Love, of the One
Hundred and Sixteenth regiment
New York volunteers recalls to
mind a famous act of bravery
which the general was too modest
to have published. Love, at the
battle of Cedar creek, in 1864, was
colonel of his regiment-the One
Hundred and Sixteenth New York
volunteers-and it was his bravery
at this battle for which he was
subsequently brevetted brigadier-
general. He was of frank and
genial nature, very companionable,
full of good stories, and always en-
deavored to Undue others with his
cheerful spirit. A man ofthe finest
physique and a handsome face, he
felt when off duty that he was the
equal socially of any of the COM
manding officers. Loves frank
and honest disposition was greatly
admired by all, and he became such
favorite that whenever his COM
niand went into an engagement the
first inquiries were always for Loves
safety. His popularity was SO
great throughout the command
that it necessarily found envious
opposition, which came in the
person of Gen. Dwight, then COM
mander of the First division of the
Nineteenth Army corps. The ia
miliar and sociable ways of the
genial Love were repugnant to the
stiff and dignified general of the
First division, and under some
lame pretext Love was deprived of
his command and found himself on
the eve Of the battle of Cedar creek
under arrest upon some insignifi-
cant and tritling charge. The next
day the Confederates, under Gen.
Jubal A. Early, attacked the Union
line both in front and rear. Love
was still under arrest. His friends
requested the return of his sword
and command, but Dwight was inn
placable.
Love, humiliated, sees the Con-
federates press upon his cherished
regiment, his men fall back as they
are fighting against double odds
His nature can stand it no longer
He rushes among his boys and
buckling on a cartridge box, takes
the musket from q dead man and
fights in the ranks. His presence
and noble example encourage his
almost defeated men. The charge,
under his lead, is made, and the
lost ground retaken. Love is in
the van. The fighting is most des.
perate, but the works are retaken
and in this hand-tO-hand conflict
Love with his own hand plucks
from the enemy the emblem o.
victory, being the first flag cap
tured in the battle. After the con
hict Love retired as a private sol
dier of the One Hundred and Six
teenth with his cartridge box on
with a musket at his side, together
with his hard-earned prize-tht
captured flag of the enemy-prO
ceeded to division headquarters tt
receive the hearty welcome due tt
a brave soldier. In approaching
the dignified Dwight, Love in hi!
jovial way said:
Here, general, give me back
my sword. Here is a confederate
flag for it,"
But Dwight, refusing the brav'
soldiers request, flew into a no
passion and ordered Love to b.
disarmed, the flag to be takel
from him. He also ordered Low
; to be placed under close arrest
with guard over him, for breach o
, arrest, having. so Dwight consid
cred it, violated his first order Q
|, arrest. But Love was too brave
! soldier and too good q man to b
] thus maltreated. The drumme
!, boys liked him, the private soldier
loved him, and the line and sta
, officers knew there was not a ma
of nobler heart in the corps, an
the injustice to Love was deepl
: : felt by all. Gen. Emery, the con
I mander of the corps, began to max
J inquiry, and almost the same da
Gen. Sheridan, the commander {
the whole army, sent for Dwigh
Gen. Sheridan pointed out the ii
!. Justice of Loves arrest and ordere
+ his immediate release. The braver
J of Love, his meek submission
/ injustice from his superior, 80 in
pressed Sheridan that he ordere
Gen. Custer and Col. Love to pr,
ceed, with proper escort, to Wasl
" ington, to turn over the capture
battle flags to the war department
n When Love returned q week aft
!, Dwight was not with the cor
q mand and Love was q brigade
y general. For q week 1t least the
was . feast in camp.
CT ~uovrovqT Won Wef0 born {